ACLU: Muslim student's rights were violated

Local school officials are investigating an allegation that a Bellwood Elementary School physical education teacher violated the rights of a Muslim student by forcing her to run in class even after the student informed the teacher she was fasting in observance of Ramadan.

Leslie Mehta, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, notified Chesterfield County Public Schools of the student's claim in a June 22 letter to Superintendent James Lane.

School Board Attorney Wendell Roberts responded to Mehta's letter on Lane's behalf last week. Roberts said the school system is "deeply concerned" about the allegation of religious discrimination and promised a complete review of the May 30 incident at Bellwood Elementary.